Vehicular rearview mirror assembly with spring-loaded electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A vehicular rearview mirror assembly includes an electro-optic reflective element and a back plate, with a spring-loaded electrical connector disposed in a passageway of the back plate. The spring-loaded electrical connector is spring-biased toward an extended state and compressible toward a compressed state. The reflective element has an electrically conductive element established at the rear surface and in electrical connection with a conductive coating of the reflective element. A circuit element is disposed at the back plate and has an electrically conductive trace electrically connected to control circuitry. With the back plate attached at the reflective element and with the circuit element attached at the back plate, the spring-loaded electrical connector is compressed toward the compressed state and electrically connects the electrically conductive trace at the circuit element and the electrically conductive element at the reflective element.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/878,733, filed Jan. 24, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,525,889,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/051,824,filed Feb. 24, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,878,669, which claims thefiling benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 62/198,881,filed Jul. 30, 2015, Ser. No. 62/169,705, filed Jun. 2, 2015, and Ser.No. 62/120,039, filed Feb. 24, 2015, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of interiorrearview mirror assemblies for vehicles and, more particularly, tointerior rearview mirror assemblies having a variable reflectancereflective element and circuitry for electrically connecting to theelectrically conductive coatings of the variable reflectance reflectiveelement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a mirror assembly that is adjustably mounted toan interior portion of a vehicle, such as via a double ball pivot orjoint mounting configuration where the mirror casing and reflectiveelement are adjusted relative to the interior portion of a vehicle bypivotal movement about the double ball pivot configuration. Thereflective element may be an electrochromic reflective element having anelectrochromic medium sandwiched between front and rear substratescoated with electrically conductive coatings, whereby, when powered, thetransmissivity of the reflective element is varied. Typically,electrical connection to the conductive coatings is provided viasoldering to clips that clip onto an edge portion of the respectivesubstrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rearview mirror assembly that providesspring-loaded electrical connectors that electrically connect betweencircuitry on a circuit element (such as a printed circuit board or thelike) and electrically conductive elements established at the rear ofthe reflective element (such as at the fourth or rear surface of anelectro-optic mirror reflective element). The electrically conductiveelements may comprise electrically conductive traces that areelectrically conductively connected to electrically powered elements atthe reflective element, such as the electrically conductive coatings atthe second and third surfaces of an electro-optic mirror reflectiveelement. The spring-loaded electrical connectors are urged or biasedinto electrical contact with the electrically conductive traces andelectrically conductive elements as the back plate is attached at therear of the reflective element and/or as the circuit board or element isattached at the back plate.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interior rearview mirror assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mirror reflective element assembly ofthe mirror assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mirror reflective elementassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the mirror reflective elementassembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another interior rearviewmirror assembly, with a spring connector in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the spring connector of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the spring connector, showing itsconnection to a metallic connector pad at the rear surface of the mirrorreflective element;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the connection of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector pad configured to clip ontoa conventional electrode clip attached along an edge of a substrate of amirror reflective element in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side view and partial sectional view of the connector padand conventional electrode clip of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an interior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includesa casing 12 and a reflective element 14 positioned at a front portion ofthe casing 12 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, mirror assembly10 is configured to be adjustably mounted to an interior portion of avehicle (such as to an interior or in-cabin surface of a vehiclewindshield or a headliner of a vehicle or the like) via a mountingstructure or mounting configuration or assembly 16. The mirrorreflective element comprises a variable reflectance mirror reflectiveelement that varies its reflectance responsive to electrical currentapplied to conductive coatings or layers of the reflective element. Thereflective element 14 is attached at a back plate 30 and, when a circuitelement or circuit board 32 is attached at the back plate, spring-loadedor spring-biased connectors 34 make electrical connection betweencircuitry on the circuit element 32 and respective electricallyconductive coatings or elements at the rear of the mirror reflectiveelement 14, as discussed below.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, the mirrorreflective element 14 comprises a laminate construction variablereflectance electro-optic (such as electrochromic) reflective elementassembly having a front substrate 18 and a rear substrate 20 with anelectro-optic medium 22 (such as electrochromic medium) sandwichedtherebetween and bounded by a perimeter seal 24. As shown in FIG. 2,front substrate 18 has a front or first surface 18 a (the surface thatgenerally faces the driver of a vehicle when the mirror assembly isnormally mounted at the vehicle) and a rear or second surface 18 bopposite the front surface 18 a, and rear substrate 20 has a front orthird surface 20 a and a rear or fourth surface 20 b opposite the frontsurface 20 a, with the electro-optic medium 22 disposed between thesecond surface 18 b and the third surface 20 a and bounded by theperimeter seal 24 of the reflective element (such as is known in theelectrochromic mirror art). The second surface 18 a has a transparentconductive coating 26 established thereat (such as an indium tin oxide(ITO) layer, or a doped tin oxide layer or any other transparentelectrically semi-conductive layer or coating or the like (such asindium cerium oxide (ICO), indium tungsten oxide (IWO), or indium oxide(IO) layers or the like or a zinc oxide layer or coating, or a zincoxide coating or the like doped with aluminum or other metallicmaterials, such as silver or gold or the like, or other oxides dopedwith a suitable metallic material or the like, or such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety), while the third surface 20 a has a metallicreflector coating 28 (or multiple layers or coatings) establishedthereat. The front or third surface 20 a of rear substrate 20 mayinclude one or more transparent semi-conductive layers (such as an ITOlayer or the like), and one or more metallic electrically conductivelayers (such as a layer of silver, aluminum, chromium or the like or analloy thereof), and may include multiple layers such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The mirrorreflector may comprise any suitable coatings or layers, such as atransflective coating or layer, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,626,749; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,690,268;5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,511; 5,567,360;5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012;5,115,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,disposed at the front surface of the rear substrate (commonly referredto as the third surface of the reflective element) and opposing theelectro-optic medium, such as an electrochromic medium disposed betweenthe front and rear substrates and bounded by the perimeter seal (butoptionally, the mirror reflector could be disposed at the rear surfaceof the rear substrate (commonly referred to as the fourth surface of thereflective element), while remaining within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention).

The third surface 20 a defines the active EC area or surface of the rearsubstrate within the perimeter seal 24. The coated third surface 20 amay also be coated to define a tab-out region and wrap around coating orportion 28 a (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assembliesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) thatwraps around the perimeter edge of the rear substrate and overcoats aportion of the rear or fourth surface 20 b of the rear substrate. Thewrap around portion 28 a thus provides electrical connection of theconductive layers 28 to an electrically conductive pad or bus-bar orelement 28 b established or disposed at the rear surface of the rearsubstrate for electrical connection to a spring-loaded connector 34.Optionally, the conductive pad 28 b may comprise a conductive metal pador element or tab that is adhered or otherwise established at the fourthsurface and that is electrically conductively connected to the thirdsurface coating 28 via a conductive epoxy or the like.

Likewise, an electrically conductive pad or bus-bar or element 29 a(which may be a coating established at the rear surface of the rearsubstrate or may be a metal pad or electrically conductive elementadhered or otherwise attached or bonded or established or disposed atthe rear surface of the rear substrate) may be established at anotherregion of the rear surface of the rear substrate for electricalconnection to another spring-loaded connector 34. The conductive pad 29a may be electrically connected to the electrically conductivetransparent coating 26 at the rear or second surface 18 b of the frontsubstrate 18, such as via a conductive epoxy 29 b or the likeestablished along a portion of a perimeter region of the reflectiveelement (and at a region where the perimeter seal 24 may electricallyisolate the coating 28 at the rear surface of the rear substrate fromthe conductive epoxy 29 b, such as can be seen in FIG. 2).

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the back plate 30receives the reflective element 14 therein, with the electricallyconductive pads 28 b, 29 a exposed at the rear surface of the reflectiveelement. The back plate 30 includes apertures or passageways 30 atherethrough that receive the connectors 34 (such as shown in FIG. 4).The back plate 30 (such as a generally planar portion 30 c of the backplate 30) is attached at the rear surface of the reflective element,such as via an adhesive layer or element or tape 38 disposed between andattaching an attachment surface of the back plate 30 at the rear surfaceof the reflective element. The pads 28 b, 29 a are disposed at locationsat the rear of the reflective element 14 where, when the back plate 30is attached at the reflective element via the adhesive layer or element38, the adhesive element 38 has corresponding openings or apertures andwhere the respective passageways 30 a are located, such that theelectrical connectors 34 electrically connect with the pads or elements28 b, 29 a at the passageways 30 a.

When the electrical connectors are received in the passageways 30 a, theconnectors 34 float or are movable along the passageway, with themovement limited by a flange or lip 30 b of the back plate 30 and spacedapart flanges or lips 34 a, 34 b of the connector 34. The connectors 34thus may be pressed into the passageways 30 a (such as in an upwarddirection as shown in FIG. 4), whereby, after insertion, the connectorsmay move along the passageways but will not fall out of the passageways.

The connectors 34 have a length dimension (when not compressed) that islarger than the thickness of the back plate at the passageways, suchthat the contacts or ends 34 c, 34 d of the connectors may protrude fromeither side or both sides of the back plate. The metallic orelectrically conductive contact end 34 c is movable relative to theconnector body and contact end 34 d to compress or expand the connector,and is biased towards its extended state via an internal spring 34 e. Asshown in FIG. 4, the contact end 34 d contacts the respective conductivepad or element 28 b, 29 a at the rear of the reflective element when theback plate is attached at the reflective element.

The circuit element 32 (such as a printed circuit board or PCB) isconfigured to snap attach at the back plate (such as via one or moreclasps or tabs 30 d that engage the circuit board substrate 32 a, asshown in FIG. 4). When the circuit element 32 is attached at the backplate 30, respective circuitry (such as conductive traces of the PCBthat are electrically connected to control circuitry, such as EC controlcircuitry, of the PCB) of the circuit element engages or electricallycontacts the contact end 34 c of the respective connector 34, wherebythe connector compresses as it is sandwiched between the circuit boardand the reflective element to establish electrical connection betweenboth ends of the connector and the circuitry at the circuit element andthe conductive pads at the rear of the reflective element, with thecompressed spring biasing the contact ends towards the circuit elementand the rear surface of the reflective element to maintain theelectrical connection.

Thus, the spring-loaded electrical connector of the present inventionmay be formed of a first, generally tubular, metallic stamping or formor body portion having a first cross-sectional dimension, and a second,generally tubular, metallic stamping or form or body portion having asecond cross-sectional dimension. The shape, form and cross-sectionaldimension of the second body portion is smaller than that of the firstbody portion, such that the second body portion is disposed within thefirst body portion and is slidable along and within the first bodyportion. A spring or other biasing element is disposed within at leastthe first body portion and enables the second body portion to movewithin and along the inner walls of the first body portion. The springelement urges the second body portion outward from the first bodyportion to extend the connector to its extended state (where the lengthof the connector is greater than the thickness of the back plate in andthrough which it is disposed), with the spring element compressing toallow the connector to compress as the back plate is attached at therear surface of the reflective element and as the circuit board orelement is attached at the back plate.

The electrical connector and/or the back plate include retention tabs orflanges or elements to limit removal of the electrical connector fromthe back plate such that the back plate (with the electrical connectorsdisposed therein) can be moved and handled when it is not attached atthe reflective element and/or circuit board, with the electricalconnector remaining at the respective passageway of the back plate. Theback plate (with the electrical connectors disposed therein) can beattached at the rear surface of the reflective element and then laterthe circuit board may be snap-attached at the back plate and reflectiveelement construction to compress the electrical connectors and establishthe electrical connection between the circuitry of the circuit board andthe electrically conductive elements at the reflective element, or thecircuit board can be attached to the back plate (with the electricalconnectors disposed therein), whereby the back plate and circuit boardcan be later attached at the rear surface of the reflective element tocompress the electrical connectors and establish the electricalconnection between the circuitry of the circuit board and theelectrically conductive elements at the reflective element. Thespring-loaded electrical connector of the present invention thusprovides enhanced assembly and electrical connection of mirrorreflective element sub-assemblies.

Thus, the present invention provides spring-loaded electrical connectorsthat establish electrical connection between circuitry on a PCB andelectrical contacts at the rear of the reflective element duringassembly of the PCB to the back plate. The present invention thusreduces or eliminates wiring connectors and soldering of connectors atthe reflective element. The spring force of the internal spring of theconnector may be selected to be sufficient to establish and maintainelectrical connection during and after assembly. For example, the springforce may be at least about 1 N, preferably at least about 1.5 N orthereabouts. The connector contact ends and body comprise a metallic orotherwise electrically conductive material and the spring also comprisesa metallic or otherwise electrically conductive material such thatelectrical current can pass from one contact end to the other when oneof the ends is electrically powered (and when the other end iselectrically connected to circuitry to power).

In the illustrated embodiment, two electrical connectors are provided toestablish electrical connection between EC control circuitry of the PCBto the electrically conductive coatings at the second and third surfacesof the reflective element. However, spring-loaded electrical connectorsmay also or otherwise provide electrical connection between circuitry ofthe PCB and contacts for other electrically powered or controlledelements, such as sensors or heater pads (for exterior mirrorapplications) or the like, while remaining within the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

For example, one or more spring-loaded electrical connectors may bedisposed in the back plate of an exterior rearview mirror assembly andconfigured to electrically connect with conductive pads or elements of aheater pad disposed at the rear of the mirror reflective element (andbetween a generally planar portion of the back plate and the mirrorreflective element). The heater pad spring-loaded electrical connectorselectrically connect to circuitry at the circuit board (such as when thecircuit board is attached or snap-attached at the back plate) andprovide power and/or control to the heater pad to control heating of themirror reflective element of the exterior rearview mirror assembly.Optionally, other spring-loaded electrical connectors may be provided atand through the back plate for electrically connecting circuitry of thecircuit board to other electrically powered elements or devices, such asone or more light sources or indicators disposed at the rear of themirror reflective element (and viewable through the reflective elementwhen powered). Thus, multiple spring-loaded electrical connectors of thepresent invention may be provided at and through the back plate toprovide the desired electrical power and control of one or moreelectrically powered devices or element.

The present invention thus provides spring-loaded electrical connectorsthat electrically connect between the PCB and conductive coatings orpads at the rear of an electro-optic reflective element, with theconnectors being snapped into the attachment plate or back plate withthe ends protruding from one or both sides of the back plate. The pinsor connectors are thus part of the back plate and are positioned at therear of the reflective element when the reflective element is attachedat or received in the back plate. Thus, when the reflective element isattached or received at the back plate, that end of the pin or connectormay engage or may be pressed into engagement with the pads at the fourthsurface and, when the PCB is snapped onto the back plate, the other endof the connector is pressed into engagement with circuitry of the PCB,thus connecting the PCB circuitry to the respective EC cell conductivecoatings. The present invention thus provides enhanced assembly of themirror reflective element assembly, particularly for frameless typemirror reflective elements that may not have an overlap or offset regionof the substrates for a clip attachment. The conductive pads areestablished at the rear of the rear substrate and the spring-loaded orbiased pins or connectors are disposed in the back plate and makeconnection between the conductive pads and circuitry or traces at thePCB when the PCB is attached at the back plate. The pins are then heldin place by the attachment of the PCB and maintain the electricalconnection of the circuitry to the conductive coatings of the reflectiveelement. Such a configuration eases the assembly of the mirror andfacilitates automated assembly and connections.

Optionally, the spring-loaded electrical connectors may be insert moldedin the back plate (such as during an injection molding process thatforms the plastic back plate), with the ends of the connector protrudingat either side of the back plate. Optionally, the spring-loadedconnector may be provided disposed in a plastic (non-electricallyconductive) sleeve and may be longitudinally movable along a passagewayof the sleeve (so as to generally float in the passageway of thesleeve), with one or more flanges of the connector and the sleeveinteracting to limit longitudinal movement of the connector within andrelative to the sleeve. The sleeves (with the respective spring-loadedconnectors disposed therein) may be disposed in the mold for the backplate such that, when the back plate is molded (via an injection moldingprocess), the sleeves are integral to the back plate and held in placeby the molded back plate that is molded around the sleeves (which mayhave one or more exterior protrusions that are molded over by the backplate to further secure the sleeves relative to the molded back plate).

Optionally, the connectors may comprise a flexible spring metallic clipor connector (that is biased or spring-biased towards its initial shapeor form) that flexes as the circuit board is moved towards the rear ofthe reflective element and as the connector engages a connector pad orelement at the rear surface of the reflective element. For example, andwith reference to FIGS. 5-8, a flexible spring clip or spring-biasedconnector 134 may be attached at the circuit board 132 (and electricallyconnected to circuitry of the circuit board) and may extend therefrom aselected distance such that, when the circuit board 132 is attached atthe back plate 130 at the rear of the reflective element 114, theconnector 134 engages an electrically conductive pad or element at therear surface of the reflective element to electrically connect thecircuitry of the circuit board to the electrically conductive coating orcoatings of the reflective element. The connector 134 comprises aflexible metallic electrically conductive material and is sized so as tobe larger than the gap between the circuit board and the conductiveelement at the rear surface of the reflective element when the circuitboard is attached at the back plate of the mirror reflective element.

Thus, when the circuit board (with the connector attached thereto orintegrally formed thereat) is pressed into a snap attachment with theback plate, the electrical connector 134 engages the conductive elementat the rear surface of the reflective element and flexes. Because theconnector preferably comprises a spring element, it is biased towardsits initial state and thus exerts a contact force or pressure at theconductive element at the rear surface of the reflective element tomaintain appropriate electrical contact between the circuitry of thecircuit board and the conductive element at the rear surface of thereflective element.

The flexible spring clip connector 134 thus provides solderlesselectrical connection between circuitry of the circuit board and theconductive element at the rear surface of the reflective element.Optionally, the connector may be insert formed or clipped or connectedat least partially in the circuit board substrate such that theconnector is part of the circuit board and is received through anaperture in the back plate when the circuit board (with the connectorattached thereto or integrally formed thereat) is pressed into a snapattachment with the back plate. Optionally, the connector may be insertmolded in the back plate (such as during an injection molding processthat forms the plastic back plate), with flexible or spring-biasedportions of the connector protruding at either side of the back plate,whereby both portions flex as they engage with the circuit board and theconductive element at the rear surface of the reflective element,respectively, and are biased toward electrical contact with the circuitboard and conductive element.

The present invention thus provides flexible or spring-biased orspring-loaded electrical connectors that electrically connect betweenthe PCB and conductive coatings or pads at the rear of an electro-opticreflective element. The connectors may be part of the circuit board orpart of the back plate and are positioned at the rear of the reflectiveelement when the reflective element is attached at or received in theback plate. Thus, when the reflective element is attached or received atthe back plate, that end of the connector may engage or may be pressedinto engagement with the pads at the fourth surface and, when the PCB issnapped onto the back plate, the other end of the connector is pressedinto engagement with circuitry of the PCB, thus connecting the PCBcircuitry to the respective EC cell conductive coatings. The presentinvention thus provides enhanced assembly of the mirror reflectiveelement assembly, particularly for frameless type mirror reflectiveelements that may not have an overlap or offset region of the substratesfor a clip attachment. The connectors are held in place by theattachment of the PCB and maintain the electrical connection of thecircuitry to the conductive coatings of the reflective element. Such aconfiguration eases the assembly of the mirror and facilitates automatedassembly and connections.

Optionally, the electrical connection of the present invention may bemade to conventional electrode clips attached at a perimeter edge regionof a glass substrate of the mirror reflective element (whereby theelectrode clip makes electrical contact with a conductive coating on oneof the surfaces of the substrate, such as with a conductive coating atthe front or third surface of the rear substrate or with a transparentconductive coating at the rear or second surface of the frontsubstrate). For example, and such as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, aconnector pad 234 has a pad portion 234 a that may attach at the backplate and includes an extension or clip portion 234 b configured toextend over and snap to an electrode clip 236 already attached at theperimeter edge of the rear substrate) when the back plate (and connectorpad) is attached at the rear surface of the rear substrate of the mirrorreflective element. In a similar manner, another connector pad may havean extension or clip portion that extends further from the pad portionto snap attach and electrically connect to an electrode clip at aperimeter edge of the front substrate. For example, a connector pad forthe rear substrate electrode clip may have its clip portion along oneperimeter region of the rear substrate (such as along an upper or lowerregion) and the other connector pad (for the front substrate electrodeclip) may have its clip portion along an opposite perimeter region (suchas along the lower or upper region). The extension or clip portions ofthe connector pads of the present invention thus may snap attach at therespective electrode clip as the back plate is attached, thus easing theassembly process and electrical connection of electro-optic controlcircuitry to the conductive coatings at the surfaces of the mirrorreflective element substrates that oppose and contact the electro-opticmedium. The spring-loaded or spring-biased electrical connectors of thepresent invention may then electrically connect to the connector padswhen the back plate is attached at the reflective element and/or whenthe circuit board is attached at the back plate, such as in a similarmanner as discussed above.

The mirror casing may include a bezel portion that circumscribes aperimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element, or theperimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element may beexposed (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror reflective elementsdescribed in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/124064; WO2011/044312; WO 2012/051500; WO 2013/071070 and/or WO 2013/126719, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

The back plate may comprise any suitable construction. Optionally, forexample, a common or universal back plate, whereby the appropriate orselected socket element or pivot element (such as a socket element orsuch as a ball element or the like) is attached to the back plate toprovide the desired pivot joint for the particular mirror head in whichthe back plate is incorporated. Optionally, when molding the back plate,a different insert may be provided to integrally mold a portion of orall of a ball member or the like (such as a portion of a base of a ballmember, whereby the ball member may comprise a metallic ball member thatis insert molded at the base and at the rear of the back plate duringthe injection molding process that forms the back plate, such as byutilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,855,755; 7,249,860 and 6,329,925 and/or U.S. Pat. Pub. Nos.US-2013-0088884 and/or US-2006-0061008, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties).

The reflective element and mirror casing are adjustable relative to abase portion or mounting assembly to adjust the driver's rearward fieldof view when the mirror assembly is normally mounted at or in thevehicle. The mounting assembly may comprise a single-ball orsingle-pivot mounting assembly, whereby the reflective element andcasing are adjustable relative to the vehicle windshield (or otherinterior portion of the vehicle) about a single pivot joint, or themounting assembly may comprise other types of mounting configurations,such as a double-ball or double-pivot mounting configuration or thelike, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. The socket or pivot element is configured to receive a ballmember of the base portion, such as for a single pivot or single ballmounting structure or a double pivot or double ball mounting structureor the like (such as a pivot mounting assembly of the types described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,593,565; 6,690,268; 6,540,193; 4,936,533;5,820,097; 5,100,095; 7,249,860; 6,877,709; 6,329,925; 7,289,037;7,249,860 and/or 6,483,438, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties).

The mounting base includes an attaching portion that is configured to beattached to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield (such as to amounting button or attachment element adhered to the interior surface ofthe vehicle windshield or such as to a headliner or overhead console ofthe vehicle). The mounting base may comprise a metallic ball portion ormay comprise a molded (such as injection molded) polymeric mounting baseor may be otherwise formed, depending on the particular application ofthe mirror assembly.

The mirror assembly may comprise any suitable construction, such as, forexample, a mirror assembly with the reflective element being nested inthe mirror casing and with a bezel portion that circumscribes aperimeter region of the front surface of the reflective element, or withthe mirror casing having a curved or beveled perimeter edge around thereflective element and with no overlap onto the front surface of thereflective element (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,451; 7,289,037; 7,360,932;8,049,640; 8,277,059 and/or 8,529,108, or such as a mirror assemblyhaving a rear substrate of an electro-optic or electrochromic reflectiveelement nested in the mirror casing, and with the front substrate havingcurved or beveled perimeter edges, or such as a mirror assembly having aprismatic reflective element that is disposed at an outer perimeter edgeof the mirror casing and with the prismatic substrate having curved orbeveled perimeter edges, such as described in U.S. Des. Pat. Nos.D633,423; D633,019; D638,761 and/or D647,017, and/or InternationalPublication Nos. WO 2010/124064; WO 2011/044312; WO 2012/051500; WO2013/071070 and/or WO 2013/126719, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties (and with electrochromic and prismaticmirrors of such construction are commercially available from theassignee of this application under the trade name INFINITY™ mirror).

As discussed above, the mirror assembly may comprise an electro-optic orelectrochromic mirror assembly that includes an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element. The perimeter edges of the reflectiveelement may be encased or encompassed by the perimeter element orportion of the bezel portion to conceal and contain and envelop theperimeter edges of the substrates and the perimeter seal disposedtherebetween. The electrochromic mirror element of the electrochromicmirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190;6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544;5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673;5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Although shown as an electrochromic mirror application, it is envisionedthat the mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic reflective element,while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.The prismatic mirror assembly may be mounted or attached at an interiorportion of a vehicle (such as at an interior surface of a vehiclewindshield) via the mounting means described above, and the reflectiveelement may be toggled or flipped or adjusted between its daytimereflectivity position and its nighttime reflectivity position via anysuitable toggle means, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870 and/or 7,249,860,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0085653, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, forexample, the interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise a prismaticmirror assembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,289,037; 7,249,860; 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242;4,826,289; 4,436,371 and/or 4,435,042, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the prismaticreflective element may comprise a conventional prismatic reflectiveelement or prism or may comprise a prismatic reflective element of thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,420,756; 7,289,037; 7,274,501;7,249,860; 7,338,177 and/or 7,255,451, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. A variety of mirror accessories and constructionsare known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,555,136; 5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319 and/or6,315,421 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties), that can benefit from the present invention.

Optionally, the reflective element may include an opaque orsubstantially opaque or hiding perimeter layer or coating or banddisposed around a perimeter edge region of the front substrate (such asat a perimeter region of the rear or second surface of the frontsubstrate) to conceal or hide or the perimeter seal from viewing by thedriver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted inthe vehicle. Such a hiding layer or perimeter band may be reflective ornot reflective and may utilize aspects of the perimeter bands and mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,066,112; 7,626,749; 7,274,501;7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, and/or International Publication Nos. WO2010/124064 and/or WO 2011/044312, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the perimeter bandmay comprise a chrome/chromium coating or metallic coating and/or maycomprise a chrome/chromium or metallic coating that has a reducedreflectance, such as by using an oxidized chrome coating or chromiumoxide coating or “black chrome” coating or the like (such as byutilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies described in U.S. Pat. No.7,184,190 and/or 7,255,451, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties). Optionally, other opaque orsubstantially opaque coatings or bands may be implemented whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the interior rearview mirror assembly may include circuitrytherein (such as at a printed circuit board or the like disposed withinthe mirror casing, and electrical connection to the circuitry may bemade via an electrical lead or connector of a wiring harness of thevehicle. Optionally, the electrical connector may be received throughthe mirror casing and through an aperture established through the toggleelement, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirror assemblies describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688 and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2010-0085653,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The mirror assembly may include user actuatable inputs operable tocontrol any of the accessories of or associated with the mirror assemblyand/or an accessory module or the like. For example, the mirror assemblymay include touch sensitive elements or touch sensors or proximitysensors, such as the types of touch sensitive elements described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,594,222; 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; 6,627,918;7,224,324 and/or 7,253,723, and/or International Publication Nos. WO2012/051500 and/or WO 2013/071070, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties, or such as proximity sensors of thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,224,324; 7,249,860 and/or 7,446,924,and/or International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or such asmembrane type switches, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, orsuch as detectors and the like, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,255,541; 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258and/or 6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, and/or the like, while remaining within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

Optionally, the user inputs or buttons may comprise user inputs for agarage door opening system, such as a vehicle based garage door openingsystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771;7,023,322 and/or 5,798,688, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Optionally, the user inputs may also orotherwise comprise user inputs for a telematics system of the vehicle,such as, for example, an ONSTAR® system as found in General Motorsvehicles and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594;4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552;5,924,212; 6,243,003; 6,278,377; 6,420,975; 6,477,464; 6,946,978;7,308,341; 7,167,796; 7,004,593; 7,657,052 and/or 6,678,614, and/or U.S.Pat. Pub. No. US-2006-0050018, which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more other displays,such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or6,329,925, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, and/or display-on-demand transflective type displays, and/orvideo displays or display screens, such as the types disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 8,890,955; 7,855,755; 7,338,177; 7,274,501; 7,255,451;7,195,381; 7,184,190; 7,046,448; 5,668,663; 5,724,187; 5,530,240;6,329,925; 6,690,268; 7,734,392; 7,370,983; 6,902,284; 6,428,172;6,420,975; 5,416,313; 5,285,060; 5,193,029 and/or 4,793,690, and/or inU.S. Pat. Pub. Nos. US-2006-0050018; US-2009-0015736; US-2009-0015736and/or US-2010-0097469, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more otheraccessories at or within the mirror casing, such as one or moreelectrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas,including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like,a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video devicefor internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756;5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253;5,669,698; 7,195,381; 6,971,775 and/or 7,249,860, microphones, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,657,052; 6,243,003; 6,278,377 and/or6,420,975, speakers, antennas, including global positioning system (GPS)or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,798,688, a voice recorder, a blind spot detection system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786and/or 5,786,772, transmitters and/or receivers, such as for a garagedoor opener or a vehicle door unlocking system or the like (such as aremote keyless entry system), a digital network, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a high/low headlamp controller, such as acamera-based headlamp control, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, an imagingsystem or components or circuitry or display thereof, such as an imagingand/or display system of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,400,435; 7,526,103; 6,690,268 and/or 6,847,487, and/or U.S. Pat. Pub.No. US-2006-0125919, a video device for internal cabin surveillance(such as for sleep detection or driver drowsiness detection or the like)and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keyless entry receiver, a seatoccupancy detector, a remote starter control, a yaw sensor, a clock, acarbon monoxide detector, status displays, such as displays that displaya status of a door of the vehicle, a transmission selection (4wd/2wd ortraction control (TCS) or the like), an antilock braking system, a roadcondition (that may warn the driver of icy road conditions) and/or thelike, a trip computer, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver(such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647; 6,294,989; 6,445,287;6,472,979; 6,731,205 and/or 7,423,522, and/or an ONSTAR® system, acompass, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594;4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442 and/or 5,632,092, and/or any otheraccessory or circuitry or the like (with all of the above-referencedpatents and publications being commonly assigned and being herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

The mirror assembly may comprise or utilize aspects of other types ofcasings or the like, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,338,177;7,289,037; 7,249,860; 6,439,755; 4,826,289 and/or 6,501,387, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. For example, the mirrorassembly may utilize aspects of the flush or frameless or bezellessreflective elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,360,932;7,289,037; 7,255,451; 7,274,501 and/or 7,184,190, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise a modular mirrorconstruction, and may include back housing portions or the like, such ascap portions of the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,289,037, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A displayscreen may be provided as a modular display screen and may be mountableor installable in the appropriate or suitable mirror casing to provide amodular mirror assembly and display screen. For example, a rear casingor cap portion may include the display screen module including theassociated components, such as the rails and motor and the like for avideo slideout module (such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirrorsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983 and 6,690,268, and/or U.S. Pat.Pub. Nos. US-2006-0050018 and/or US-2009-0015736, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties), and may beattachable to a reflective element and/or mirror casing to assemble themodular mirror assembly. The display screen module thus may be providedas an optional component or accessory for a vehicle, and may be readilyassembled to a common reflective element and/or mirror casing of themirror assembly.

Optionally, the mirror casing and/or reflective element may includecustomized or personalized viewable characteristics, such as color orsymbols or indicia selected by the vehicle manufacturer or owner of thevehicle, such as the customization characteristics described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,626,749; 7,255,451 and/or 7,289,037, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicular rearview mirror assembly, saidvehicular rearview mirror assembly comprising: an electro-opticreflective element having a front substrate and a rear substrate and anelectro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, said front substratehaving a first surface and a second surface with a transparentelectrically conductive coating at the second surface and in contactwith said electro-optic medium, said rear substrate having a thirdsurface and a fourth surface with an electrically conductive coating atthe third surface and in contact with said electro-optic medium; anelectrically conductive element established at the fourth surface ofsaid rear substrate and in electrical connection to one of saidtransparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface ofsaid front substrate or said electrically conductive coating at thethird surface of said rear substrate; a back plate attached at saidelectro-optic reflective element, said back plate having a passagewayestablished through said back plate, wherein said back plate comprises apolymeric back plate formed via an injection molding process; a circuitelement disposed at a rear side of said back plate, said circuit elementhaving an electrically conductive trace in electrical connection withelectro-optic control circuitry; a spring-loaded electrical connectordisposed in the passageway of said back plate, wherein saidspring-loaded electrical connector comprises an outer electricallyconductive part and an inner electrically conductive part movablydisposed partially within the outer electrically conductive part and inelectrical conductivity with the outer electrically conductive part, andwherein said spring-loaded electrical connector is spring-biased towardan extended state and compressible toward a compressed state, andwherein, with said spring-loaded electrical connector in its extendedstate, a length dimension of said spring-loaded electrical connector isgreater than a thickness of said back plate at the passageway; whereinthe outer electrically conductive part of said spring-loaded electricalconnector is movable within and partially along the passageway; andwherein, with said circuit element attached at said back plate attachedat said electro-optic reflective element, said spring-loaded electricalconnector is compressed toward the compressed state and electricallyconnects the electrically conductive trace and the electricallyconductive element.
 2. The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim1, wherein movement of the outer electrically conductive part of saidspring-loaded electrical connector is limited by a flange of said backplate that protrudes partially into the passageway.
 3. The vehicularrearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said spring-loadedelectrical connector is disposed in the passageway and the outerelectrically conductive part is retained therein via the flange of saidback plate in the passageway being disposed between spaced apart flangesof the outer electrically conductive part of said spring-loadedelectrical connector.
 4. The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim3, wherein one of the spaced apart flanges of the outer electricallyconductive part allows for insertion of said spring-loaded electricalconnector into the passageway from one direction to dispose saidspring-loaded electrical connector in the passageway, and wherein theone of the spaced apart flanges of the outer electrically conductivepart limits movement in the other direction of the outer electricallyconductive part of said spring-loaded electrical connector when saidspring-loaded electrical connector is inserted into the passageway. 5.The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein movement ofthe outer electrically conductive part of said spring-loaded electricalconnector is limited by one of the spaced apart flanges of the outerelectrically conductive part engaging the flange of said back plate. 6.The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein saidspring-loaded electrical connector is insert molded in the passageway ofsaid back plate during the injection molding process that forms saidback plate.
 7. The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 1,wherein said circuit element comprises a printed circuit board.
 8. Thevehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said printedcircuit board is snap-attached at said back plate.
 9. The vehicularrearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the electro-optic controlcircuitry is established at said printed circuit board.
 10. Thevehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein saidspring-loaded electrical connector contacts and is biased intoengagement with the electrically conductive element and the electricallyconductive trace to electrically connect the electrically conductivetrace and the electrically conductive element when said printed circuitboard is attached at said back plate.
 11. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 1, wherein one of the electrically conductive innerpart or the electrically conductive outer part comprises a reflectiveelement contacting end that, when said spring-loaded electricalconnector is disposed in the passageway, contacts the electricallyconductive element at the fourth surface of said rear substrate, andwherein the other of the electrically conductive inner part or theelectrically conductive outer part comprises a circuitry contacting endthat, when said spring-loaded electrical connector is disposed in thepassageway, contacts the electrically conductive trace at said circuitelement.
 12. The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 11, whereinsaid spring-loaded electrical connector comprises a spring elementdisposed at least partially in the electrically conductive inner partand the electrically conductive outer part, and wherein the springelement urges the electrically conductive inner part outward from theelectrically conductive outer part.
 13. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 12, wherein the spring element comprises anelectrically conductive spring element.
 14. The vehicular rearviewmirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the spring element has a springforce of at least 1 Newton.
 15. The vehicular rearview mirror assemblyof claim 1, wherein said vehicular rearview mirror assembly comprises aninterior rearview mirror assembly and is configured for mounting at aninterior portion of a vehicle.
 16. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 1, wherein said vehicular rearview mirror assemblycomprises an exterior rearview mirror assembly and is configured formounting at an exterior portion of a vehicle.
 17. A vehicular rearviewmirror assembly, said vehicular rearview mirror assembly comprising: anelectro-optic reflective element having a front substrate and a rearsubstrate and an electro-optic medium sandwiched therebetween, saidfront substrate having a first surface and a second surface with atransparent electrically conductive coating at the second surface and incontact with said electro-optic medium, said rear substrate having athird surface and a fourth surface with an electrically conductivecoating at the third surface and in contact with said electro-opticmedium; an electrically conductive element established at the fourthsurface of said rear substrate and in electrical connection to one ofsaid transparent electrically conductive coating at the second surfaceof said front substrate or said electrically conductive coating at thethird surface of said rear substrate; a back plate attached at saidelectro-optic reflective element, said back plate having a passagewayestablished through said back plate, wherein said back plate comprises apolymeric back plate formed via an injection molding process; a circuitelement disposed at a rear side of said back plate, said circuit elementhaving an electrically conductive trace in electrical connection withelectro-optic control circuitry; a spring-loaded electrical connectordisposed in the passageway of said back plate, wherein saidspring-loaded electrical connector comprises an outer electricallyconductive part and an inner electrically conductive part movablydisposed partially within the outer electrically conductive part and inelectrical conductivity with the outer electrically conductive part, andwherein said spring-loaded electrical connector is spring-biased towardan extended state and compressible toward a compressed state, andwherein, with said spring-loaded electrical connector in its extendedstate, a length dimension of said spring-loaded electrical connector isgreater than a thickness of said back plate at the passageway; whereinsaid spring-loaded electrical connector comprises a spring elementdisposed at least partially in the electrically conductive inner partand the electrically conductive outer part, and wherein the springelement urges the electrically conductive inner part outward from theelectrically conductive outer part; wherein the spring element has aspring force of at least 1 Newton; wherein the outer electricallyconductive part of said spring-loaded electrical connector is movablewithin and partially along the passageway; wherein, with said circuitelement attached at said back plate attached at said electro-opticreflective element, said spring-loaded electrical connector iscompressed toward the compressed state and electrically connects theelectrically conductive trace and the electrically conductive element;and wherein said vehicular rearview mirror assembly comprises aninterior rearview mirror assembly and is configured for mounting at aninterior portion of a vehicle.
 18. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 17, wherein movement of the outer electricallyconductive part of said spring-loaded electrical connector is limited bya flange of said back plate that protrudes partially into thepassageway.
 19. The vehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 17,wherein said circuit element comprises a printed circuit board.
 20. Thevehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein said printedcircuit board is snap-attached at said back plate.
 21. The vehicularrearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein the electro-optic controlcircuitry is established at said printed circuit board.
 22. Thevehicular rearview mirror assembly of claim 19, wherein saidspring-loaded electrical connector contacts and is biased intoengagement with the electrically conductive element and the electricallyconductive trace to electrically connect the electrically conductivetrace and the electrically conductive element when said printed circuitboard is attached at said back plate.
 23. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 17, wherein the spring element comprises anelectrically conductive spring element.
 24. The vehicular rearviewmirror assembly of claim 17, wherein said spring-loaded electricalconnector is insert molded in the passageway of said back plate duringthe injection molding process that forms said back plate.
 25. Avehicular rearview mirror assembly, said vehicular rearview mirrorassembly comprising: an electro-optic reflective element having a frontsubstrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic medium sandwichedtherebetween, said front substrate having a first surface and a secondsurface with a transparent electrically conductive coating at the secondsurface and in contact with said electro-optic medium, said rearsubstrate having a third surface and a fourth surface with anelectrically conductive coating at the third surface and in contact withsaid electro-optic medium; a first electrically conductive elementestablished at the fourth surface of said rear substrate and inelectrical connection to said transparent electrically conductivecoating at the second surface of said front substrate; a secondelectrically conductive element established at the fourth surface ofsaid rear substrate and in electrical connection to said electricallyconductive coating at the third surface of said rear substrate; a backplate attached at said electro-optic reflective element, said back platehaving first and second passageways established through said back plate,wherein said back plate comprises a polymeric back plate formed via aninjection molding process; a circuit element disposed at a rear side ofsaid back plate, said circuit element having first and secondelectrically conductive traces in electrical connection withelectro-optic control circuitry; a first spring-loaded electricalconnector disposed in the first passageway of said back plate, whereinsaid first spring-loaded electrical connector comprises a first outerelectrically conductive part and a first inner electrically conductivepart movably disposed partially within the first outer electricallyconductive part and in electrical conductivity with the first outerelectrically conductive part, and wherein said first spring-loadedelectrical connector is spring-biased toward an extended state andcompressible toward a compressed state, and wherein, with said firstspring-loaded electrical connector in its extended state, a lengthdimension of said first spring-loaded electrical connector is greaterthan a thickness of said back plate at the first passageway; a secondspring-loaded electrical connector disposed in the second passageway ofsaid back plate, wherein said second spring-loaded electrical connectorcomprises a second outer electrically conductive part and a second innerelectrically conductive part movably disposed partially within thesecond outer electrically conductive part and in electrical conductivitywith the second outer electrically conductive part, and wherein saidsecond spring-loaded electrical connector is spring-biased toward anextended state and compressible toward a compressed state, and wherein,with said second spring-loaded electrical connector in its extendedstate, a length dimension of said second spring-loaded electricalconnector is greater than a thickness of said back plate at the secondpassageway; wherein the first outer electrically conductive part of saidfirst spring-loaded electrical connector is movable within and partiallyalong the first passageway, and wherein the second outer electricallyconductive part of said second spring-loaded electrical connector ismovable within and partially along the second passageway; and wherein,with said circuit element attached at said back plate attached at saidelectro-optic reflective element, (i) said first spring-loadedelectrical connector is compressed toward its compressed state andelectrically connects said first electrically conductive trace and saidfirst electrically conductive element and (ii) said second spring-loadedelectrical connector is compressed toward its compressed state andelectrically connects said second electrically conductive trace and saidsecond electrically conductive element.
 26. The vehicular rearviewmirror assembly of claim 25, wherein movement of the first outerelectrically conductive part of said first spring-loaded electricalconnector is limited by a first flange of said back plate that protrudespartially into the first passageway, and wherein movement of the secondouter electrically conductive part of said second spring-loadedelectrical connector is limited by a second flange of said back platethat protrudes partially into the second passageway.
 27. The vehicularrearview mirror assembly of claim 25, wherein said circuit elementcomprises a printed circuit board.
 28. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 27, wherein said printed circuit board issnap-attached at said back plate.
 29. The vehicular rearview mirrorassembly of claim 27, wherein the electro-optic control circuitry isestablished at said printed circuit board.
 30. The vehicular rearviewmirror assembly of claim 25, wherein said first spring-loaded electricalconnector is insert molded in the first passageway of said back plateduring the injection molding process that forms said back plate, andwherein said second spring-loaded electrical connector is insert moldedin the second passageway of said back plate during the injection moldingprocess that forms said back plate.